How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and light debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pets or power cords.
The more expensive models even clean your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also want a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about a model that has smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get caught when climbing stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. view it now has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as an extended battery. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily using this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans for future use. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any time, so that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, however it is a pro in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downsides are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some do a decently job of sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. However, they can't handle fine particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to baseboards and thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap out a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it comes into contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't have to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in the absence of obstacles and in being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set up to only mop. best robot vacuums were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare and rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for an item of this size.
If you want a more modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only operate during certain hours of the day (a handy feature for keeping children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however it still picks up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.
Ideal for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for models with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has a powerful robotic vacuum with smart navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste and spread germs less, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save your time. The mops can also be dried, washed, and used again.
The robovac is controlled by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. For instance, you can use the app to set up an area where the vacuum can't go, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. The improvements in technology reduced the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot snag.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues that these devices have however. The cheapest models still struggle with the same issues that the older ones did, and many of them require a certain amount of light to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up picks do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in the dark and in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, since the laser used by a LIDAR-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.
A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.